Backstage With… Jodie Comer and Ridley Scott on medieval epic The Last Duel
The Last Duel is based on real events – set in 14th century France it tells the story of what led to the final time a battle between two men was held in order to settle a dispute.
This article contains discussions of rape and sexual assault.
The issue they are fighting over is whether one raped the other’s wife, and the film is split in to three distinct parts in order for the story – and the truth – to unfold to viewers.
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Director Ridley Scott told Sky News’ Backstage podcast that he’d been inspired by the Japanese film Rashomon, from 1950, which also saw several people explaining the same story from different points of view.
“I always felt the most fascinating thing about the big idea was it was one event told from three different points of view,” the filmmaker said.
“And that to me, was the heart of this matter, because then it sets up the discussion: ‘Was it complicit? Was it violence? Was it rape? And what was it in the mind of a husband?’ So that, to me, is one of the reasons why I did the film.
“Not the visual, not the picture, not the medieval s*** – it’s actually to do with what is the story? I develop most of my own material, so it’s always about what is the heart of the matter.”
The movie has an A-list cast with Adam Driver and Matt Damon playing the men at odds with one another.
The Last Duel was directed by Ridley Scott. Pic: 20th Century Studios
Jodie Comer takes on the role of Marguerite – the noble woman who wants to see justice for the crime committed against her.
The plot device means there is more than one rape scene, and Comer said she prepared for those by really trying to understand how the French woman must have felt.
Jodie Comer in The Last Duel. Pic: 20th Century Studios
“It’s funny because I always struggle when someone asks about my preparation for something, because I think a lot of how I kind of navigate is instinctive,” she said.
“The night before we shot those scenes, Ridley, myself and Adam, we went to the studio, we got on the set and we blocked it out physically – there was no line reading, there was no acting, there was no emotion, it was purely to kind of set the movement of the scene, and then the next day we shot it.
“So a lot of it goes unsaid, honestly, I think it was always just trying to really make sure that this was an authentic portrayal, that it wasn’t gratuitous, that it was moving the story forward and it was telling a story.”
Scott said those scenes are a testament to Comer’s abilities, saying: “The job of a director is to cast really well, and when you cast really well, it’s a bit like taking a pebble and throwing it into a pool of still water and seeing what happens, having discussed it.”
Adam Driver in The Last Duel. Pic: 20th Century Studios
“Because once I say action, she’s on her own and she’s on her own moving with another actor.
“And therefore a lot of it becomes intuitive at that moment, and that’s the fine tuning of great acting, great actors.”
The Last Duel is out in cinemas in the UK on 15 October. Hear the full interview in the new episode of Backstage – the film and TV podcast from Sky News.
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Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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